OSHA Inspection: FOX TANK COMPANY

Issued

2014-09-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a)  A welder was exposed to continuous noise at 171.9% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 484 minute sampling period on May 13, 2014.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 93.9 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero calculation increment for the 4 minutes of additional sampling.    b) A welder was exposed to continuous noise at 158.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 483 minute sampling period on May 13, 2014.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 93.3 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero calculation increment for the 3 minutes of additional sampling.   c) A welder was exposed to continuous noise at 104.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 483 minute sampling period on May 13, 2014.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 90.3 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero calculation increment for the 3 minutes of additional sampling.   d) A welder was exposed to continuous noise at 87.4% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 476 minute sampling period on May 13, 2014.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 89.0 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 4 minutes not sampled.  e)  A welder was exposed to continuous noise at 86.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 483 minute sampling period on May 13, 2014.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 88.9 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero calculation increment for the 3 minutes of additional sampling.

Issued

2014-09-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    On or about March 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, airborne exposures were not evaluated for employees who were required and voluntarily wear tight-fitting respirators such as, but not limited to, Miller LPR-100 half facepiece respirators with P100 filter cartridges while welding the interior and exterior of steel tanks being manufactured for the oil and gas industry.  Employees were exposed to potential oxygen deficient atmospheres/or inhalation of toxic welding fumes.

Issued

2014-09-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not required to wear appropriate goggles, to protect them from the rays when noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields were not used:    On or about March 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, welding areas were not shielded or otherwise screened off to protect adjacent workers from viewing the welding arc and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Issued

2014-09-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(d)(9)(iii): Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors were not replaced:    On or about March 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that arc welding cables were free from damage to the insulation, exposing employees to the hazard of heated conductors and electrical shock.

Issued

2014-09-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There were damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of electric equipment, such as parts that were broken, bent, cut or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:    On or about March 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, the flexible cords in the facility had damage to the insulation that affected the safety of the cords, exposing employees to electric shock and arc/fire hazards.    a) A yellow extension cord powering an 110 volt angle grinder had exposed copper wiring damage to the internal insulation.    Fox Tank Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 892898, Citation number 1, Item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on 7/12/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 104 Highway 87, Comfort, TX 78013.